I'm having this powering up problem everytime i switch on my PC, It goes so far as i get 10 mins then its shuts itself down and then it won't start again, unless i leave it for a few minutes. In which its OK after that.

Sysytem details are: 1.3 AMD Duron, 384 Ram, Win98se, 30Gig Hdd, CD-Rewriter, DVD Rom Player. I had a new motherboard and New case back in March this year. All was OK, until the last couple of months on & Off. The last few days it has got worse.

I'm getting the odd Cmos Checksum failure and Backing up of Register files messages poppping up now and again. Some times a total freeze on the screen. I have been told about the Power supply and Heat problems and also about the Bad motherboard and faulty Ram.

Any ideas?

:(

Hello DPanic,

Welcome tohttp://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif Forums!

For new systems it would be wise to barebones boot the system initially. This is best done on a non-conductive surface such as a piece of cardboard on a table.

Connections from the case/power to the motherboard are accomplished outside of the case on the table.

Barebones is only the RAM, Video Card, Monitor, P/S 2 Keyboard...and of course the CPU>Heatsink>Fan...

See if you can make it through POST with this barebones approach...

Set the BIOS to boot from floppy first...usually, the (0) choice...

If this works add the floppy drive...

If that works, I then use a floppy with the Harddrive's diagnostics (downloaded from the manufacturer's site)...these are self booting...

Add the harddrive and run the diagnostics...

Since your problem appears to be heat related, the first suspect would be the interface material (i.e. thermal pad or paste between the processor and the heatsink) If there was a pad, are you sure you removed the protective film on the pad itself?

Hi Whyzman,

This isn't a new system, i have had it quite a while now. I upgrade memory a while back as sometimes this helps, it did for about 4 months.
I also had my motherboard tested at the same time but they were all fine and running OK. I have done a virus and spyware check plus a defrag
but the same thing happens.
I'm completely stumped?

You might want to try running a memory test:

http://www.memtest86.com/

If you think your system is clean, you might want to try the barebones boot anyway...

The idea is to get the number of variables down to as few as possible when troubleshooting...

I would also suggest running the harddrive diagnostics, again, download from the manufacturer's web site...

Memory is OK, but i'll get out the diagnostic disk that came with my Hard Drive to test it.

When the freeze-ups occur, are you doing anything on the computer such as playing a game etc.?

Even without taking the motherboard out of the case, you might want to disconnect everything to get yourself to a barebones setup...

You might then monitor your temps from the BIOS. Although it would be while idling, there might be something you pick up there...

A relatively simple experiment would be to remove the case cover and set a fan to gently blow on the innards...

Also, have you done a thorough cleaning of the heatsink, PSU, innards, with a can of compressed air...make sure those dust bunnies don't have a home! My apologies up front to any environmentalists reading this post! :rolleyes:

Not gaming just the general surfing or trying to mail. It just freezes and then after 10 secs shuts down.

I have done a Hard Drive diagnostic and there are no errors etc, so that looks OK.

It looks like i have to do like you said.